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Germanic · Boy name

Charles

“free man”

About the name Charles

Charles is derived from the Germanic name ‘Karl’, which means ‘free man’. The name was later Latinized as ‘Carolus’ in historical records. Charles has been a prominent royal name, notably borne by Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who played a significant role in uniting much of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages. The name has remained in use across various cultures, often adapted into local forms such as Carlos in Spanish-speaking countries.

Meaning
free man
Origin
Germanic
Gender
Boy
Pronunciation
CHAR-lz(2 syl.)

Variants and spellings

If you like Charles

Middle names for Charles

  • Charles James
  • Charles Michael
  • Charles David
  • Charles Joseph
  • Charles Alexander

Questions about Charles

What does Charles mean?
Charles is a Germanic name meaning "free man".
How do you pronounce Charles?
Charles is pronounced CHAR-lz, with emphasis on the first syllable.
What are variants of Charles?
Variants of Charles include Carlos, Charlie, Charley.

More names like this: Germanic baby names

Updated . Name meanings and origins vary between sources and traditions; this page gives the most widely cited interpretation. How we write these pages.